Riverina Highway Patrol Acting Inspector Ben Smith said in the final days of the Christmas and New Year operation, 46 people tested positive for drugs or alcohol in their system throughout the district.

"We have moved away from hours of stationary testing, and we have started targeting those areas where know drink and drug-drivers frequent," he said.

"That's why we might have yielded a higher result this year."

Inspector Smith said during the final days of operation six drivers refused to stop when signalled to do so by officers resulting in police pursuits.

A chase is their last resort, he added, but even if the driver is not caught in that instance "they will be".

"I just want to get the message out there that there are much harsher penalties for people who do not stop for us," Inspector Smith said.

"We are following those people up.

"We have arrested a male in Tumut already ... if you were one of those other drivers then expect a knock on the door from Highway Patrol."

Inspector Smith said it was encouraging that the Riverina Police District had not suffered any fatalities throughout the operation.

"It was a great result," he said.

"However, last year the Riverina Police District ended the year with 13 fatal collisions, which was up from the year before that.

"Our aim is to have zero fatalities because that's zero families' doors we are knocking on."